Podcast Summary: “All Of It” — Cillian Murphy on His New Movie Steve (WNYC, Sep 10, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It features a conversation between host Alison Stewart and Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy about his latest film, Steve. The discussion covers Murphy’s dual role as both actor and producer, the process of bringing Max Porter’s book to the screen, unique production approaches, acting philosophy, character insights, and working with young co-stars. Central themes include vocational teaching, addiction, emotional labor, and the importance of humanizing at-risk youth in cinema.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Fast and Sequential Production

• Rapid Development: The film moved from book to script to shooting in approximately six months, which Murphy found both challenging and energizing.

  "[T]his all happened fairly quickly... maybe six months. It was pretty quick." (01:45 – Cillian Murphy)

• Benefits of Brief Shoots: Murphy prefers shorter shoots, especially for emotionally taxing roles, and had double duties as a producer.

  "It's very hard to sustain that...charged anxiety...for this character." (01:58 – Cillian Murphy)

• Shooting Chronologically: Inspired by Ken Loach, Murphy implemented chronological shooting, rare in filmmaking, which benefited young actors by allowing their performances and emotional arcs to develop organically.

  "...shoot the film chronologically and sequentially. And that was massively beneficial..." (02:29 – Cillian Murphy)

2. Directorial Trust and Creative Safety

• Working with Director Tim Mealance: This film marks Murphy’s third collaboration with director Tim Mealance. He describes a highly trusting, creative partnership.

  "He's a magician, really... I'd work with him forever. We have a massive understanding and trust together." (04:19, 05:05 – Cillian Murphy)

• Safety to Experiment: Creative safety is crucial; it enables risk-taking and genuine discovery during performance.

  "...feeling safe to experiment, feeling safe to try things out, you know, to make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes are kind of portal to real creativity..." (05:44 – Cillian Murphy)

3. Portraying Steve: Character, Backstory, and Motivation

• A Day in the Life Structure: The film is intentionally narrow in scope, focusing on a single turbulent day. Murphy leans into immediacy and reactivity rather than constructing elaborate backstories.

  "...it's a day in the life...all you need to know about the characters is what you receive on the screen." (06:20 – Cillian Murphy)

• Vocational Teaching: Murphy, the son of two teachers, speaks passionately about the drive to help at-risk or written-off youth, portraying Steve as compassionate to a fault.

  "I think it's a vocational job. You have a drive in you to help people or to help children in this case." (08:04 – Cillian Murphy)

• Self-sacrifice and Downside: Steve's dedication leads him to neglect his own well-being, embodying the classic "put your own oxygen mask on first" dilemma.

  "He's probably not looking...after himself in any way." (09:19 – Cillian Murphy)

4. On-Screen Dynamics and Addiction

• De-escalation: Steve’s strength is his ability to remain calm and diffuse volatile situations—both scripted and developed further through collaborative rehearsal and blocking.

  "They are diffusers...they don't have that sort of sense of aggression or kind of...they don't react in that way." (10:53 – Cillian Murphy)

• Compartmentalization & Addiction: Steve’s addiction surfaces as he hides drugs and alcohol, rationalizing these behaviors. Murphy addresses the complexities of justifying such inauthentic coping strategies.

  "Everything becomes justified. I think." (16:08 – Cillian Murphy)

5. Relationship with Shai and Other Students

• Mirror Characters: Steve and student Shai are portrayed as two sides of the same coin—sensitive, talented, and troubled—both spiraling during the same harrowing day.

  "They're both really sensitive and brilliant...events trigger them both into this kind of breakdown..." (16:42 – Cillian Murphy)

• Seeing the Best in Others: Steve’s defining trait is his ability to see promise and value in kids society has marginalized.

  "He's not one of those people...I think he sees the best in people." (17:36 – Cillian Murphy)

6. Collaborating with Young and Seasoned Co-stars

• Working with Young Actors: Murphy describes the young cast as "a real shot in the arm"—energizing, natural, and committed.

  "They're so committed. So I kind of thrived off their energy..." (13:53 – Cillian Murphy)

• On Tracey Ullman: Ullman’s dramatic role is highlighted as both surprising and deeply moving; Murphy calls her his character's most trusted confidante.

  "She's just an icon, also a beautiful human being... brilliant dramatic actor and just doesn't get to show that off much." (14:53 – Cillian Murphy)

7. Ambiguous Endings and Interpretation

• Open Ending: Murphy deliberately refuses to state what he thinks happens to Steve after the events of the film, valuing audience interpretation.

  "...the audience finishes the story rather than the storytellers." (22:09 – Cillian Murphy)

8. Philosophy on Writing and Choosing Roles

• Peaky Blinders and Character Longevity: Murphy is drawn to excellent writing. His long tenure as Tommy Shelby is due to the show's strong scripts, allowing unique character development over more than a decade.

  "The writing was always the draw...you get to age with that character and kind of...go to places you never normally would, really." (23:17 – Cillian Murphy)

• Judging Scripts: The script is the "foundation of every film," and Murphy does not shy from turning down big projects if the writing is weak.

  "If the script is shaky, the house is gonna fall down." (24:21 – Cillian Murphy)

9. Audience Connection

• Completion Through Viewership: Murphy sees films as completed through the emotional responses and interpretations of audiences rather than explicit messaging.

  "...the film isn't finished until people see it and the audiences finish the film for themselves, and we don't do it." (24:57 – Cillian Murphy)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |------------|--------|----------| | 01:58 | "It's very hard to sustain that...charged anxiety...for this character." | Cillian Murphy | | 02:29 | "[Chronological shooting] was massively beneficial to us and to the younger actors and to the crew." | Cillian Murphy | | 04:19 | "He's a magician, really... I'd work with him forever." | Cillian Murphy | | 05:44 | "Just feeling safe to experiment, feeling safe to try things out, you know, to make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes are kind of portal to real creativity, I think." | Cillian Murphy | | 08:04 | "I think it's a vocational job. You have a drive in you to help people or to help children in this case." | Cillian Murphy | | 09:19 | "He's probably not looking...after himself in any way." | Cillian Murphy | | 16:08 | "Everything becomes justified. I think." |-Cillian Murphy | | 17:36 | "I think he sees the best in people. He's not one of those people." | Cillian Murphy | | 22:09 | "...the audience finishes the story rather than the storytellers." | Cillian Murphy | | 23:17 | "The writing was always the draw...you get to age with that character..." | Cillian Murphy | | 24:21 | "If the script is shaky, the house is gonna fall down." | Cillian Murphy | | 24:57 | "...the film isn't finished until people see it and the audiences finish the film for themselves, and we don't do it." | Cillian Murphy |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:35] — Fast production and chronological shooting
• [04:19] — Relationship with director Tim Mealance, creative trust
• [05:44] — Safety in creativity, making mistakes
• [08:04] — Discussion on vocational teaching, and personal/family context
• [09:19] — Steve’s sacrifices and self-neglect
• [10:53] — Steve’s skill at de-escalation, collaborative scene work
• [13:53] — Working with young actors
• [14:53] — Tracey Ullman's impact and character relationship
• [16:42] — Steve's relationship with Shai (student)
• [17:36] — Seeing the best in troubled kids
• [22:09] — Ambiguous ending, art as dialogue with audience
• [23:17] — Peaky Blinders, longevity of roles
• [24:21] — Philosophy on selecting scripts and projects
• [24:57] — The role of the audience in completing a film's meaning

Conclusion

This episode offers a deep-dive into the making and meaning of Steve, illuminating both the technical aspects of the filmmaking process and the emotional, philosophical layers of the film’s story and central character. Cillian Murphy’s candor about acting, producing, and interpreting art provides rich context for audiences, educators, and fans interested in the intersection of personal vocation, social systems, and creative expression.